Gas or the like venting device



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GAS OR THE LIKE VENTING DEVICE Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK P. BERGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASS-IGNOR TO BERGER DEVICE MFG. CO. INC. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS GAS OR THE LIKE VEN'IING DEVICE Application filed April 11,

My invention relates in general to gas or the like venting devices and has particular reference to a gas venting unit for use in combination with kegs or like containers used for the fermentation of certain li'quids. As heretofore practiced, venting devices of this character usually rely on the so-ca=lled waterseal for air trapping purposes for permitting escape of gas from the keg or container in which the fermenting liquid is contained with the seal excluding air from the container. This principle is practical under ordinary conditions, but I have found that unless the venting device is equipped with means, such as a pressure responsive control, it sometimes happens that due to change of temperatures there is a tendency for the atmospheric pressure to force the water in the venting unit into the keg or container, thus spoiling the liquid, as well as destroying the function of the venting device.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a venting device with means to forestall any possibility of the atmospheric pressure on the outside of the keg forcing the water in the venting unit into the keg and the preferred construction for accomplishing this feature is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the venting unit;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with parts in sectime;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the valve cap; and

Fi g. l is a detail perspective view of the disc valve.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, 5 represents a hung plug which is of more or less conventional construction, the same being made of wood and being adapted to bedriven into the bung hole of a keg. These plugs may be made in various sizes so as to be accommodated in different sized bung holes. For the purpose of the present invention the bung 5 is made with a central openh1g6 extending from end to end of the lug and made to receive a tube 7 which s ent uprin itseli as at 8 to provide a dependm end 9, The end 9 is intended to pass througi 1927. Serial No. 182,704.

an opening 10 in a rubber stopper 11, as an example, in a glass water bottle 12. The stopper 11' is made with a normally open air escape 13.

Carried on the depending end 9 of the tube 7 a venting head 14, the same being adapted to be submerged in the water contained in the bottle 12 and having a central bore 15 for the reception of the end of the tube so that the head is thus suspended from the tube end, preferably above the bottom of the water bottle 12. The venting head 14 may be constructed in various ways and in most cases I would prefer to produce the same from a frustum-shaped piece of metal with the bore 15 drilled in the center of the piece. The fiat top of the head 14 is made to provide a seat for a disc valve 16, the valve being produced preferably from flexible material, rubber, as an example, and having an opening 17 through which the tube 9 extends into the bore 15. The fit between the tube and the opening 17 in the valve should be free enough to permit the valve to slide on the tube, unless the valve is so flexible as to readily respond to pressure of the gas discharged into the venting head 14 and from which it escapes through the gas vent 18. The gas vent 18 is disposed in the head at oneside of the bore 15 and communicates with the bore internally of the head, as at 19.

Overlying the disc valve 16 is a cap 20 having a short upstanding boss 21 around the opening 22 through which the tube extends.

Vith this construction the cap is also slidably mounted on the tube, so to speak, and resting upon the valve 16 which, of course, overlies the gas vent 18 and closes the same. The valve 16 is adapted to uncover the gas vent 18 in response to gas pressure generated in the keg or container so that the gas escapes through the water-seal and out through the opening 13 in the stopper 11.

If there should happen to be a drop in temperature in the contents of the liquid in the keg, the tendency would be for the gases in the keg to contract, causing atmos )heric pressure to force the water in the ottle thro gh the venting head into the tube and thus into the keg, where it would more than likely spoil the liquid and also leave the air trap open to such an extent that air would readily enter the keg through the venting unit after the water in the bottle has been forced out. This latter possibility would not be apt to cause a great deal of damage unless the device was left unattended for some time, but since this frequently happens it isa possibility that must be taken into account.

With my pressure responsive control the possibility of water being forced into the keg need not be considered, since the valve 16 in overlying the gas vent 18 in the venting head will operate to normally seal the gas vent 18 until the pressure of the escaping gas from the keg is sufficient to raise the same from its seat and expose the gas vent a sufficient amount to permit the escape of the generating gas. When the gas pressure in i. L the keg drops, the valve closes the gas vent and prevents any water from passing lnto the venting head and tube.

The cap 20 should be used 111 comblnatlon with the valve 16 when the latter is constructcdof flexible material, such as rubber. How:

be too heavy, otherwise it would not open the gas vent in response to the slight pressure of a small amount of escaping gas. In other words, the valve will act automatically to close the gas vent 18 as soon as there is any back pressure to be accounted for and it does not depend on any float or buoyancy of the material. It is always closed, except when sufficient pressure is exerted outwardly from the keg through the tube to liftthe cap to allow the gas caused by fermentation of the liquid to escape through the water-seal in the bottle 12.

I claim:

1. In a gas or the like venting device, a

vent head adapted to be submerged in a liquid seal and having an opening for the reception of a gas pipe and making a liquid tight seal therewith, a gas vent passing through said head communicating with the opening for "the gas pipe, and a pressure responsive control for said vent,comprising a cover-piece overlying the vent and a cap overlying the cover-piece.

2. In a gas or the like venting device, a

"' one piece vent head adapted to be immersed in a liquid and having a bore for the reception of a gas pipe and making a liquid tight seal therewith, a gas vent passing through said head to one side of said bore communicating with the bore interiorly of the vent head, and a pressure responsive control for said vent, comprising a cover-piece movably mounted with respect to the vent head and adapted to overlie the gas vent and to be held in that position by the pressure of said liquid.

ably mounted with respect to the vent head and adapted to overlie the gas vent, and a cap alsomovablymounted with respect to the vent head adapted to overlie the coverpiece.

4. In a gas or the like venting device, a one-piece vent head adapted to be submerged in a liquid seal and having a bore for the reception of a gas pipe and making a liquid tight seal therewith, a gas vent passing through said head communicating with said bore, and a pressure responsive control for said vent, comprising means on the outside of the head covering the gas vent, said means being liftable with respect to the vent in response to gas pressure discharging from the vent but adapted to close the vent in response to pressure from the outside of the vent.

5. In a gas or the like venting device, a vent headhaving a bore, a gas pipe communicating therewith, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe and communi cating'therewith internally of the vent head, and a pressure responsive control for said gas vent, comprising a cover therefor mounted on the vent head through the medium of an opening therein throughwhich the gas pipe extends.

' 6. In a gas or the like venting device, a vent head having a bore, a gas pipe communicating therewith, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe and communicating therewith internally of the vent head, and a pressure responsive control for said gas vent, comprising a cover therefor mounted on the vent head through the medium of an opening therein through which the gas pipe extends and relatively light weight overlying said cover. 7

7. In a gas or the like venting device, a vent head having a bore, a gas pipe communicatingtherewith, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe and communieating therewith internally of the vent head,

a pressure responsive control for said gas 8. In a gas or the like venting device, a.

vent head having a bore, a gas pipe communicating therewith, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe bore and communicating therewith internally of the vent head, a valve seat on the vent head around the area of the gas vent, and a valve disc for the gas vent mounted on said seat through the medium of an opening therein through which the gas pipe extends.

9. In a gas or the like venting device, a vent head having a bore, a gas pipe communicating therewith, a gas vent in said head to one said of the gas pipe bore and communicating therewith internally of the vent head, a valve seat on the vent head around the area of the gas vent, a valve disc for the gas vent mounted on said seat through the medium of an opening therein through which the gas pipe extends, and a cap for the valve disc, also having an opening through which the gas pipe extends.

10. In a gas of the like venting device, vent head, a gas pipe bore therein, a gas pipe communicating with said bore, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe and communicating with the gas pipe in said head, and a valve for said gas vent, comprising a disc cover slidahly mounted on the gas pipe.

11. In a gas or the like venting device, a vent head, a gas pipe bore therein, a gas pipe communicating with said bore, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe and communicating with the gas pipe in said head, a valve for said gas vent, comprising a disc cover slidably mounted on the gas pipe, and a cap for said disc cover also slidably mounted on said gas pipe.

12. In a gas or the like venting device, a vent head, a gas pipe bore therein, a gas pipe communicating with said bore, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe and communicating with the gas pipe in said head, and a valve for said gas vent, comprising a disc cover slidably mounted on the gas pipe through the medium of an opening therein through which said pipe extends.

13. In a gas or the like venting device, a vent head, a gas pipe bore therein, a gas pipe communicating with said bore, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe and communicating with the gas pipe in said head, and a valve for said gas vent, comprising a disc cover slidahly mounted on the gas pipe through the medium of an opening therein through which said pipe extends, and a cap for said disc cover also slidably mounted on said pipe.

14. In a gas or the like venting device, a vent head, a gas pipe bore therein, a gas pipe communicating with said bore, a gas vent in said head to one side of the gas pipe and communicating with the gas pipe in said head, a valve for said gas vent, comprising a disc cover slidably mounted on the gas pipe through the medium of an opening therein through which said pipe extends, and a cap for said disc cover also slidably mounted on said gas pipe through the medium of an opening therein through which the gas pipe extends.

15. In a gas or the like venting device, an inverted frustum-shaped vent head having a central bore in the top thereof, a gas pipe having its end inserted in said bore, a gas vent in the top of the vent head to one side of said gas pipe and communicating with the gas pipe internally of the head, a valve for said gas vent, comprising a flexible disclike cover adapted to overlie the top of the vent head and having an opening therein through which the gas pipe extends, and a cap overlying said cover.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 7th day of April, A. D. 1927.

FRANK P. BERGER. 

